My Life in RuinsMovie Reviews

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Avg. Critic Score: 34 out of 100 Generally unfavorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
13 OK for kids 13+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 58
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    The film is so brazen about its pandering, crumple-hearted silliness that it had me rooting for Vardalos to land her big fat Greek stud-muffin. Read full review

  • 50
    Boston Globe | Wesley Morris

    The problem with the new movie is the same as with the previous one. Vardalos has this idea that she's a marm. And while it's true that she personifies her movies, I don't quite buy her librarian mode. Read full review

  • 50
    The Hollywood Reporter |

    Ruins is sometimes as sunny as its locations but as familiar and predictable as a Greek diner. Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times | Stephen Holden

    Not likely to spur much tourism to Greece. The sights, though impressive, are not photographed interestingly, and the citizens of the host country are less than welcoming. Read full review

  • 50
    Los Angeles Times |

    Doesn't skimp on the life lessons or instant transformations. But the movie primarily exists to give amiable Everywoman Vardalos the chance to regain her kefi. Read full review

  • 40
    Variety |

    Feels like warmed-over souvlaki. Read full review

  • 38
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    Rarely has a film centered on a character so superficial and unconvincing, played with such unrelenting sameness. I didn't hate it so much as feel sorry for it. Read full review

  • 38
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    Cloying and dated movie. Read full review

  • 30
    Washington Post |

    Fittingly, My Life in Ruins goes downhill after its title. Read full review

  • 25
    San Francisco Chronicle |

    A clich movie about love, orneriness and several maddening tourists. Read full review

View more reviews for My Life in Ruins on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+ Pleasant but overly predictable travel comedy OK for teens.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that this romcom probably isn't on most kids' radar, with the exception of teen girls who love romantic films. Sexuality includes discussions about the main character's sex life, some kissing, and a brief post-coital shot of a sheet-covered couple lying in each other's arms. There's less strong language than in most PG-13 films, with "ass" being the main offender. Violence is limited to a pool-side scuffle, and consumerism is tied to one character's job at IHOP, which is a running gag in the movie.
  • Families can talk about what the movie seems to say about success versus happiness.
  • Does Georgia's decision at the end of the movie make sense, or is it counter to her personality?
  • Why do so many romantic comedies portray the female protagonist as "uptight"? Is that sexist?
  • Kids: Is Georgia a good role model for young women?
The good stuff
  • message true2 Positive messages: Although Georgia is an intelligent, educated woman, she's depicted as passionless and uptight until she's swept off her feet by an attractive, mysterious man. The movie's message seems to be that a woman isn't happy or successful unless she's "got a man." On the other hand, the tourists all help each other in one way or another. One kleptomaniac elderly lady stops stealing by the end of the tour, and the obnoxious American couple starts to be more sensitive to Greek culture, etc.
What to watch for
  • violence false1 Violence: When a tourist is told that his Greek T-shirt announces he's gay (in a crass way), he attacks the tour guide who gave it to him, pushing him into a pool and yelling at him.
  • sex false3 Sex: Several references to Georgia's inactive sex life; a few bawdy jokes about the easily available Spanish divorcees on the tour. Several characters flirt and kiss, and one couple ends up going to bed together (they're shown, torsos covered, on the floor). It's implied that another character has a menage a trois, because his hotel door opens and he's in boxers and a robe and then two women in lingerie are visible behind him.
  • language false2 Language: Relatively mild for a PG-13 film: "ass/es," "idiot," "oh my God," "hell," "damn," "suckers," "stupid," and the words "his stick" misheard as "his d--k." A character's nickname is Poupi, and his last name is Kakas ("Poupi Kakas"; his nephew is "Doudi Kakas").
  • consumerism false2 Consumerism: One of the characters is an exec at IHOP (International House of Pancakes), and he mentions IHOP constantly, gives everyone his business cards, and compares people and places to menu items. It's a running joke throughout the film. Another tour guide discusses taking his group to the Hard Rock Cafe.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false2 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Adults frequently drink beer, cocktails, and Ouzo on their Greek vacation. In one scene, everyone's at a bar, and a few characters get drunk. One tourist pulls out a cigar but is told he can't smoke it.
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

Looking for more reviews? Movies.com Critics Say:

Dave White

1.5

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POUPI KAKAS! Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

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